CONTAINER FILLING SYSTEM AND SEALING SYSTEM

SYSTEMES DE REMPLISSAGE ET DE SCELLAGE DE CONTENANTS

English Abstract

After plastic bowls (or the like) have been filled with soup (or
the like) they are conveyed to a cleaning station. At this station
downward needle-like jets of ambient air specifically conforming to
the bowl flange surfaces blow contaminants off of the flanges and
away from the containers, in either continuous or intermittent opera-
tions. Lids are then heat sealed to the cleaned flanges, and the sealed
containers sterilized.

Claims

-14-

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A system for filling and sealing containers having
an opening surrounded by a generally horizontal flange,
said system comprising:
means for conveying said containers along a
conveyance path;
filling means for filling said containers with a
product;
cleaning means for cleaning contaminants off of the
generally horizontal flanges of the containers after
being filled by said filling means and without disturbing
the container's product by blowing a cleaning fluid
stream generally downward to the generally horizontal
flanges, said cleaning means including a template having
fluid flow-through opening pattern means for defining the
cleaning fluid stream, said pattern means being selected
to correspond to the configuration and dimensions of the
container flanges and operative to direct cleaning fluid
onto said container flanges in a stream whose shape
conforms substantially to the peripheral shape of said
flanges to prevent said stream from blowing directly into
said containers and disturbing the product; and
sealing means for thereafter sealing the filled
containers cleaned by said cleaning means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said template com-
prises a flat plate.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said template com-
prises a rotatable sleeve, and said pattern means
includes means forming openings through said rotatable
sleeve organized to conform to the configuration of said
container flanges.

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4. The system of claim 3 wherein said cleaning means
includes rotating means for rotating said rotatable
sleeve at a speed related to the conveyance speed of the
containers.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said rotatable sleeve
rotates at a rate that corresponds to the rate the
containers are conveyed therepast.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said cleaning means
includes forming means for forming a continuous
longitudinal planar curtain of pressurized fluid, at
least portions of which pass through said pattern means
when aligned therewith.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising conveying
means for conveying the containers past said cleaning
means, said conveying means having a primary conveyor
drive shaft, and said rotating means including linking
means for mechanically linking the rotational speed of
said sleeve with that of said drive shaft.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said linking means
includes a chain-and-sprocket drive and a phase changer.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein said rotating means
rotates said sleeve at a rate related to the center line
distance and spacing of the conveyed containers.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said cleaning means
includes a source of continuously pressurized cleaning
fluid.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said cleaning means
includes directing means for directing the pressurized
cleaning fluid from said source specifically at the
flanges as the containers are conveyed therepast.

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12. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said cleaning means directs the cleaning fluid
jet downward and outward at a perpendicular angle in the
direction opposite to that of the travel, generally from
said filling means to said sealing means, of the
container.

13. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said conveying means includes conveyor pallets
in which the containers are held as they are being
conveyed, said pallets having a pallet horizontal top
surface, and said cleaning means cleaning flanges that
are at least as high as said horizontal top surface.

14. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said cleaning means tracks each of the flanges
continuously as its container is conveyed therepast.

15. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein each of the flanges has a flange upper surface
whose shape is selected from the group of flat, ridged,
sloped and shape combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said sealing means includes applicator means
for applying lids to the flange-cleaned, filled
containers.

17. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein the cleaning fluid consists substantially of
clean dry air at ambient temperature.

18. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said sealing means comprises a heat sealing
system.




-17-

19. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 further comprising positioning means for placing the
containers in pallets, and conveying means for thereafter
conveying the pallets to said filling means.

20. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said sealing means pre-cut lids to the
containers.

21. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said sealing means seals a piece of foil to
the container and thereafter cuts the foil to size.

22. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 further comprising sterilizing means for sterilizing
said containers, wherein said sealing means seals, with
an air-tight fit applies lids to the cleaned, filled
containers to thereby form, after sterilization thereof,
shelf-stable products.

23. The system of claim 6 in which said pressurized
fluid curtain forming means comprises:
a manifold having a longitudinal slot communicating
with a source of pressurized fluid, such that a
substantially downwardly curtain of fluid out of said
longitudinal slot and generally transverse to the
conveyance direction is formed;
said sleeve having a pattern of openings; and
rotating means for rotating said sleeve about said
manifold such that said openings align with the curtain
and direct the pressurized fluid therefrom generally only
across each container flange as the containers are
conveyed therepast by said conveying means.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said slot is
continuous.

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25. The system of claim 23 wherein said openings are in
a pattern that aligns with the configuration of said
flange and wherein said cleaning fluid stream is
prevented from blowing directly into the product filled
containers.

26. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said pattern means includes openings each
defining a slotted orifice which is angled so that the
cleaning fluid stream blows the contaminants outwardly
away from the interior of said container.

27. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 further comprising said cleaning means defining a
first cleaning means and said cleaning fluid stream
defining a first cleaning fluid stream, a second cleaning
means for cleaning contaminants off of the flanges of the
containers after being cleaned by said first fluid
cleaning means and without disturbing the containers
product, by blowing a second cleaning fluid stream
generally downward to the generally horizontal flanges.

28. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said sealing means includes applicator means
for applying lids to the flange-cleaned, filled
containers.

29. The system of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
or 11 wherein said sealing means seals pre-cut lids to
the containers.

30. The system of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
or 11 wherein said sealing means seals a piece of foil to
the container and thereafter cuts the foil to size.

31. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 further comprising sterilizing means for sterilizing

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said containers, wherein said sealing means seals, with
an air-tight fit, lids to the cleaned, filled containers
to thereby form, after sterilization thereof by said
sterilizing means, shelf-stable products.

32. The system of claim 7 wherein said linking means
includes a chain-and-sprocket drive and a phase changer.

33. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said containers are stationary for a
predetermined amount of time while said cleaning fluid
stream is blown onto said generally horizontal flanges.

34. The system of claim 2 wherein said conveying means
conveys said containers intermittently and said
containers are held stationary under said template.

35. The system of claim 23 wherein a length of said
longitudinal slot is substantially greater than a width
of said longitudinal slot and wherein said length is
transverse to the conveyance direction.

36. The system of claim 23 wherein said longitudinal
slot is in the shape of an elongated rectangle.

37. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or
11 wherein said cleaning means includes a template having
a plurality of slotted orifices extending about a fluid-
impervious central portion of said template.

38. The system as in claim 37 wherein said central
portion of said template is arranged to prevent said
cleaning fluid stream from blowing into said filled
containers.





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39. A contaminant removal method, said method comprising
the steps of:
conveying a new location product filled containers
having flange seal areas;
during said conveying step, directing a downward
stream of pressurized fluid which tracks the seal areas
of the conveyed filled containers as they are being
conveyed by focusing said stream onto said seal areas so
that said stream follows the configuration of said seal
areas to thereby blow contaminants off the seal areas and
generally without disturbing the product filled in the
containers by preventing said stream from blowing
directly onto said containers; and
thereafter, sealing the containers on their seal
areas.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising,
thereafter, sterilizing the filled and sealed containers.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising, the
downward stream defining a first downward stream, and
before said sealing step and after said directing step,
directing a second downward stream of pressurized air and
thereby blowing generally all remaining contaminants off
the seal areas.

42. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said flange
seal areas are generally horizontal.

43. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said flange
seal areas having a generally circular configuration.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein said directing step
includes the downward stream of pressurized fluid
vertically downward onto said generally horizontal
flanges.

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45. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 further comprising
applying lids to the containers after contaminants have
been blown off of said seal areas.

46. The method of claim 39 wherein said seal areas are
tracked by directing said stream to a rotating sleeve
having a pattern of orifices disposed in front of said
downward stream of pressurized fluid such that said
downward stream passes through said rotating orifices.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said pattern of
orifices corresponds with the configuration of said seal
areas.

48. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said
directing step includes selectively directing the
downward stream of pressurized fluid to blow the
contaminants outwardly away from the interior of said
product filled containers.

49. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said
directing step includes downward stream of pressurized
fluid continuously tracking said seal areas.

50. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said
directing step occurs while said product filled
containers are moving.

51. The method of claim 39, 40 or 41 wherein said
preventing step includes rotating a template in front of
said downward stream, said template having a pattern of
orifices disposed about an impervious central portion of
said template, said impervious central portion blocking
said downward stream from blowing into said container.

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52. A containment removal method, said method comprising
the steps of:
conveying to a new location product filled
containers having flange seal areas;
during said conveying step, rotating a sleeve having
a pattern of openings above said product filled
containers at a rate corresponding to the rate at which
the containers are conveyed, such that said pattern
tracks the configuration of the seal areas; and
blowing a pressurized fluid through said pattern of
openings such that said fluid blows contaminants off of
said seal areas and is prevented from blowing directly
into said containers; and
thereafter, sealing the containers on their seal
areas.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising applying
lids to said container after contaminants have been blown
off of said flange seal areas.

54. The method of claim 52 or 53 wherein said blowing
step includes forming a narrow curtain of pressurized
fluid such that portions of said curtain pass through
said pattern of openings.

Description

2059~0

CONTAINER FILLING AND 8EALING 8YSTEN




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems, equipment
and methods for filling sealing containers, with an air-
tight fit to thereby form a shelf-stable product after
sterilization thereof. The containers can be, for
example, plastic bowls which are filled with chunky or
clear soups.
Examples of prior art machines for filling and
sealing are the GASTI Cup Filling and Sealing Machine
Model DOGAtherm 81 as described in the publication
entitled "GASTI Dogatherm" and dated February 17, 1984,
and the FEMCO Machine, as described in the publication
entitled "4-Head Tandem Gas Flush Heat Seal" and dated
September, 1988, and illustrated in the drawings entitled
"Gas Flush Extension -- Model No. 1250 -- Serial No.
6469." FEMC is the acronym for Food Equipment
Manufacturing Corporation, of Maple Heights, Ohio.
For both of these machines a continuous, straight
line conveying line is provided. Empty containers or
packages, such as cups or bowls, are placed in pallets
and securely held therein, and conveyed on the conveying
line to the filling system, which typically comprises
three fill stages. The first is a meat slurry,
particulate or ingredient deposit; the second is the
vegetable portion deposit; and the third is the broth or
water topoff. For products such as chunky clam chowder
only a single filling stage or step is needed. The
containers are filled approximately ninety percent full
of product, as close to the brim as possible. After
being filled, the containers are conveyed to the sealing
station where lids are placed on the top flange areas

~ - 2 - Z05~440

ll~reo~ and conductive heat sealed thereon. The filled and sealed
containers are s~ equently sterilized. An ~mrle of a sterilizer is
the FMC (Food Machine Corp.) Universal Sterilizer, which includes a
steam rh~mher wherein the sealed packages are held for a time suffi-
cient to sterilize the package inside and outside, but not so long as to
overcook and de~ade the product. The ch~mher can, for e~mple, be
under pL~ twenty-one psi at 250F--and the product held
l~lc~;n between an hour and an hour and a half.
The FEMCO and GASTI m~chin~s are very similar, and both use
similar filling s~sle~ls. For the FEMCO machine, various n~mhers of
packages can be held in a single pallet. One FEMCO unit has a single
line, one package per pallet arrangement, and four sealing heads. The
GASTI is a dual line system, with two containers per pallet and in a
six-pack arrangement. Thus, the GASTI machine can run at higher
speeds than the FEMCO because more, eSsentially twice, the nllmber
of packages are being se~led
Two methods of sealing lids to the filled containers are known
in the prior art. One uses a lid which has been previously dome
shaped and cut to the container configuration, positions the pre-cut
lid on the container and compresses and heat seals it thereon. The lid
can be formed of ~lllmin--m foil polypropylene or polyethylene mate-
rial. Both the FEMCO and GASTI units use this pre-cut lid deposit
techniql)e. A second method is a contin~Jo~C foil lid operation where a
sheet of foil is placed on the bowl flange, and a blade is lowered down
and cuts or serates the excess foil off, thereby ~h~ping the lid to the
bowl, as the foil is compressed and heat sealed to bowl. With either of
these te~hni~luPs and prior to flLsing the lid material to the bowl
flange, a vacuum can be pulled out according to the prior art and
nitrogen gas injected into the bowl as the lid is placed on top of the
bowl and immetli~tely prior to sealing. In other words, a vacuum is
pulled out, inert gas is injected under the lid into the package and the
lid then heat sealed in place.
After the lid has been sealed to the container, the sealed pack-
age is put through a sterilization process. This gives the package a
shelf life of a year to two and a half years without loss of flavor.


20~

lP~e of produ~ts made by this system are those available from
C~n~p~ll Soup Company of C~mden, New Jersey, incluAing their
IlMic~ a\,able Chunky Soup ~ Ready To Serve," which comes in five
varieties--sirloin burger, chicken, old fashioned chicken, clam chow-
der and beef nooAlPe
During the filling stage and as additional product is added into
the pa~hage, container or bowl the target area or depth in the con-
tainer gets sm~ller. Meats, vegetables and other cont~min~nts are
~ by more likely to be depo~eited on the flange area of the contain-
ers. Further deposition results from the spl~ehinE caused when the
frozen or heated products impact one another and also from conclen
sation droplets.
When cont-q-min~nts or any other particulates are on the flange,
a perfect seal and fusion of the lid thereto cannot be guaranteed. The
seals of the present product are not the same as those found on many
frozen products wherein the seal functions essentially as a dust cover.
Rather, heating or fusing is used therein to provide a perfect air-tight
seal. After the seal is on, the package is sterilized as previously
described and a shelf-stable product created. An air-tight seal is cre-
ated keepil~g the contents ineide of the package sealed and not allow-
ing anything else to get into the package or the contents thereof to
spoil. Additionally, during sterilization of the sealed package, lid
and/or flange r~l~Ar.~ion and contraction can occur, and if there is not
a good fusion and a good seal, the seal can open. In other worde, even
if a seal is made around the entire perimeter of the flange initially,
the seal may lelea3e itself at a later date, if there are any particu-
lates or liquids on the flange area. If the seal rPIe~c~, the opening
~ b~ formed can result in the particulates, liquids and ingredients
docayin~ or otherwise contaminating the product, or allowing foreign
materials into the package.
Removal of the con~min~nts from the container flange after
the filling stage and before the se~linE stage can thus be critical. In
the past this has been done m~nlJ~lly. One or more workers are posi-
tioned along side the con~ ying line and as the filled containers pass
by them, the workers m~nn~lly wipe the flanges off with paper

-4- 2059~40
towels. This manual cleaning process is obviously labor
intensive and thus expensive and slow, and perfect
cleaning cannot always be guaranteed.
A process for sealing glass bottles is disclosed in
U.S. Patent 4,771,903. When these bottles are filled
with wet, pulpy material such as orange juice, grapefruit
juice and tomato juice, the pulpy semi-solid residues on
the container rim can reduce the effectiveness of the
seal closure. Mention is made in that patent that to
reduce the amount of pulpy residue from the rim prior to
sealing a post-heat treatment can be used. This heat
treatment renders the rim surface more hydrophobic, and
the pulpy liquids and solids are thus less likely to
stick to the rim and more likely to be squeezed out from
between the surfaces during the sealing process. The
preferred cleaning method disclosed in that patent,
however, subjects the container rim to a fluid stream
directed across the surfaces of the rim. The stream
comprises an intermittent jet of steam or hot air
directed inwardly or horizontally across the flange.
This cleaning method avoids physical wiping or brushing
of the rim to remove the pulpy residues which in itself
can lead to contamination and does not provide as
complete a hermetic sealing surface. A plastic cap,
instead of metal foil seals of the type shown in U.S.
Patent 4,260,438, are then applied to the bottle rim.
8UMNARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of an aspect
of the present invention to provide a system for
effectively sealing containers filled with liquid and
particulate products. In other words, an improved means
for quickly and efficiently cleaning the flange surfaces
of bowls or the like filled with soups or the like before
heat sealing of the lid thereto is desirable.
Directed to achieving this object, an improved
filling and sealing system is herein disclosed. The
system is particularly adapted for filling plastic bowls
B

~5- 2059440
or cups having wide flange areas with soup, broth or
paste. After filling and before sealing foil lids to the
flange surfaces, the flange surfaces are automatically
cleaned. They are cleaned with jets of air at ambient
temperature directed generally downwardly at the flange
and through a pattern of slotted orifices configured to
match the flange seal surface areas of the containers.
According to one embodiment hereof, air is passed in a
continuous operation through a slot in a stationary
manifold and through the orifices of a template or
rotating sleeve when the orifices intersect the narrow
curtain of air passing out through the slot. As the
sleeve rotates and the slots track directly beneath the
air curtain, narrow air blasts are formed by the angle
and location of the slots, thereby directing the air only
at the traveling containers' flange surfaces. The air
blows the contaminants off and away from the flange
without disturbing the container or its contents, leaving
a clean surface ready for heat sealing. The rotating
pattern sleeve is accurately timed and synchronized with
the center line distance and spacing of the containers
conveyed therepast. For a stationary operation instead
of a continuous operation, the template can comprise a
flat instead of a round or cylindrical surface. The
template or head is lowered down over the package, which
remains stationary for a present time, and blows the
particulates away from the seal surfaces of the package.
According to another object of an aspect of the
present invention, a system for filling and sealing
containers having an opening surrounded by a generally
horizontal flange, the system comprises of means for
conveying the containers along a conveyance path; filling
means for filling the containers with a product; cleaning
means for cleaning contaminants off of the generally
horizontal flanges of the containers after being filled
by the filling means and without disturbing the
container's product by blowing a cleaning fluid stream

,~, 20594~0
-5a-
generally downward to the generally horizontal flanges,
the cleaning means including a template having fluid
flow-through opening pattern means for defining the
cleaning fluid stream, the pattern means being selected
to correspond to the configuration and dimensions of the
container flanges and operative to direct cleaning fluid
onto the container flanges in a stream whose shape
conforms substantially to the peripheral shape of the
flanges to prevent the stream from blowing directly into
the containers and disturbing the product; and sealing
means for thereafter sealing the filled containers
cleaned by the cleaning means.
According to another object of an aspect of the
present invention a contaminant removal method, the
method comprises the steps of conveying a new location
product filled containers having flange seal areas;
during the conveying step, directing a downward stream of
pressurized fluid which tracks the seal areas of the
conveyed filled containers as they are being conveyed by
focusing the stream onto the seal areas so that the
stream follows the configuration of the seal areas to
thereby blow contaminants off the seal areas and
generally without disturbing the product filled in the
containers by preventing the stream from blowing directly
onto the containers; and thereafter, sealing the
containers on their seal areas.
According to another object of an aspect of the
invention a containment removal method, the method
comprises the steps of conveying to a new location
product filled containers having flange seal areas;
during the conveying step, rotating a sleeve having a
pattern of openings above the product filled containers
at a rate corresponding to the rate at which the
containers are conveyed, such that the pattern tracks the
configuration of the seal areas; and blowing a
pressurized fluid through the pattern of openings such
that the fluid blows contaminants off of the seal areas

B

-5b- 2059440
and is prevented from blowing directly into the
containers; and thereafter, sealing the containers on
their seal areas.
Other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent to those persons
having ordinary skill in the art to which the present
invention pertains from the foregoing description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRA~ING8
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first filling and
sealing system of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the flange
cleaning system of the system of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the
flange cleaning system of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the
opposite side of the manifold assembly of the flange
cleaning system depicted in Figure 2.
Figure S is a simplified perspective view of the
manifold assembly of Figure 4, modified slightly and
showing a loaded pallet passing underneath thereof.
B

- 6 - 20S9a~

Figure 6 is a plan view of the sleeve of Figures 2-4 illustrated
in isolation.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the orifice pattern oi the
sleeve of Figure 6 in a laid flat position.
Figure 8 is a sçhPm~tic view of a second flange cle~ning sys-
tem of the present invention showing an inde~ring operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF pREF~R~F.n
EMBODD~ENTS OF THE INVENIION
Referring to Figure 1 a filling and sealing system of the present
invention is illustrated schem~tically and generally at 20. System 20
inCIUdf~C a package placement system 22, a product filling system 24,
a flange r~e~ning system 26, a lid placement and package sealing sys-
tem 28, and a sealed package sterilizing system 30, positioned in that
order and along a conveyor 32. The lid placement system 28 can
in~ de pre-cut lid or continuous roll feed lid stock e~ rment for
r~ n~ lids L on the flanges F. When the bowls or containers B with
their flanges F are placed in the pallets P at the package placement
system 22, they are securely held therein such that they cannot move
or rotate as can be unde.;,lood from Figure 5. With the exception of
the flange cle~ninc system 26, the system 20 of Figure 1 can be either
of the previou_ly~iccllcced FEMCO or GASTI machines, modified as
would be apparent to those skilled in the art from this ~ closllre. In
other words, the flange cle~ning system 26 of the present invention
can be co~sl.-lcted and mounted to an e~sting FEMCO (or GASTI)
m~-~hine bel~.-æn the filling and the se~llne stations (24 and 28)
lh ~of. While the flange clP~ning system 26 of Figures 1-~ is a con-
tinll~lLe system, that of Figure 8 is an intermittent or in.lkxinp system,
as will be e~rl~ined in detail later.
Simply, the flange rle~ning system 26 of Figure 1 1nclucle~ a
Delrin air manifold 40 communicating at one end with the supply of
filtered plant air 42 and having a dow,lwardly iix~ed, longitudinal
slot 44. This slot 44 is positioned above the convt:yor 32 and directed
down onto and pe,t,erldicular thereto. If unobstructed, a narrow cur-
tain of pressurized air would flow down through the slot 44 onto and
across the con~,eyor 32. Such air curtain, houe~rer, with a bowl B


- ~ - 2~-5

filled with product P p~csing therabeneath would disturb the contents
of the bowl, likely kicking them up onto the flange F and further con-
taminating the flange, and would not efficiently blow the contami-
nants on the flange off of it and away from the interior of the bowl.
Accordingly, the present invention includes a template 50 hav-
ing a pattern of opçnin~ 52 therethrough. The template 50 is
positi~n~hle between the manifold slot 44 and the bowls B, that is,
within the curtain of air. A preferred construction of this template
50 is as a cylindrical, st~inl~Cc steel sleeve 54 (Figure 6) ~licposecl and
rotatable about the manifold 40. The sleeve 54 has a pattern of the
slots (or opnin~e) 52 therethrough ~h~, for P~mple, generally in
an oval shape, as can be underi,lood from Figures 5-~. The sleeve 54
is rotated about the manifold 40 in a carefully coordinated and syn-
chronized m~nrler by a synchronizing drive shown generally at 60 in
Figures 2 and 3. This rotation co.~l~n~c to the movement of the
conve~or 32, or in other words the movement of the bowls B held in
the pallet suppo. ls P riding on the conveyor 32.
The narrow air blasts are determined by the angle and location
of the slots 52, directing the air only at the flange surfaces F of the
containers B p~ccinE therebeneath. The pattern of openings 52 of the
rotating sleeve 54 accurately tracks with the center line distance and
spacing of the containers B. The air pattern blows the cont~min~nts
C (Figure 1) off of the flanges F without disturbing the container B or
its contents S (such as chunky soups) and thereby leaving a clean sur-
face to be heat sealed. (See U.S. Patent 3,9s3,2~2, which in colllmn 3,
line 35, mentions blowing hot air to clean the inner surfaces of a sack,
which are to be heat sealed together later.)
The slotted orifice or pattern of openine.s 52 of the sleeve 54
can thus be angled by manlJ~lly rotating the manifold 40, and by the
rotation of the sleeve track the movement of the container B. As it
tracks the container B, it blows the cont~min~nts C either backwards
or if the orifice is angled, it blows them out to the side away from the
product S inside the container. The air entering the manifold 40 and
formin the air curtain is clean, dry ~mbient pressurized air from the
plant air supply (42) and at plant pressure. The air is on constantly


- 8 - 2~5944~

inside of the manifold 40 and P-sc~r~ only when the sleeve 54 rolls
around and the slot orifices 52 cross or intersect the path of the air
curtain. When the system 20 is not in operation, the flow of air from
the plant supply 42 to the manifold 40 can be shut off by solenoid 53,
depicted in Figure 5. Thus, when the entire system 20 is to be shut
down as when it is to be periodically steam cleanp~l~ it is desirable to
shut oif the supply of air from air supply 42 to the manifold 40. A
valve or switch is thus provided which when activated electronically
shuts off the solenoid 53 to block the flow of air.
The orifices 52 are only a couple of thollgandths of an inch in
the air path lhere~y defining only fine n~lle-e of air to accurately
and precisely impact the flange F and at the proper angle and blow
the cont~min~nts C away from the product S in the containers B.
Two tracks of air in this oval design are created going contra with the
flange F, as can be ullde~slood from Figure 5 for ~x~mple. As an
example, if in a single lane machine (20), fifty containers (B) per
minute pass by the curtain then each container is ~xL~sed to the cur-
tain for appro-x-imately 1.1 secon~Lc. Pre~csures of air between five
pounds per square inch and fifty pounds per square inch are within
the scope of this invention. For chunky soup products (S) a preferred
pressure is twelve pounds per square inch. With this automated
cleaning system 26 the conveying line can be run generally ten per-
cent faster than that of the prior art. For Pxample, instead of ninety
feet per minute it can be run at one hundred feet per minute.
Referring to Figure 5, container flange surfaces F that are
positioned above or flush with the tops of the horizontal surface of
the pallet P are thereby cleaned. Different pallets P are used for
di~ferently~h~ped containers. Some of the pallets P have anvils,
wherein the flange F is slightly above that surface. The anvils com-
prise rec~s in the surface of the pallet P to support the bowls B
under their flanges F. Thus, during heat sealing of the lid placement
and package se~li~ system 28, pressure is ~pplied on the lid L and the
bowl B only at the flange F. The container B is not damaged and is
maintained rigid, and there is no heat loss through the container. In
another case, the flange F is even with the surface so that the bowl B

~ 205~1440


sits inside of the pallet P and the top flange F of the bowl is flush
with the pallet.
Reference is hereby made to Figures 2-5 showing details of the
construction of a preferred flange rle~ning system 26 mounted to an
existing FEMCO machine. In Figures 2-4, the structure illustrated
with phantom lines conveniently rep~2sents existing FEMCO machine
structure. The flange cont~min~nt removal ~ccemhly or the cle~nin~
system 26 is shown mounted by end frames 61, 62 to the framing of
the e~islillg machine. The manifold 40 is cl~mred fixed in place by
clamp 64 to the frame, and the sleeve 54 is then rotatable about the
manifold. The sleeve 54 is rotated by a drive chain or timing belt 68
whose speed is synchronized by drive 60 with the speed of the
conve~or 32.
One side of the air manifold 40 is thus fixed by the clamp 64,
and the other side is connected to the drive chain 68 which then
rotates the sleeve 54 about the manifold 40 and with respect to the
air curtain slot 44 of the manifold. This slot 44, which is approxi-
mately .12 inch wide and five inches long, can be angled to any angle
perpef~-l;c~ r to the package or bowl B, by m~nU~lly rotating the
manifold 40, thereby blowing the particulates C backward or forward
as desired. Again, the air is continuously blowing down through the
slot 44 and as the orifices 52 of the sleeve 54 rotate and intersect or
cross the curtain, pressurized air is supplied in a needle-like m~nner
down to and along the flange F of the container B p~C~inE
lllerebeneath. The flange surface F is thereby cle~ned pr~r~sively
under the manifold 40 as it is conveyed therepasl by the conveyor 32.
Bolts can be removed and the manifold 40 slid out of the sleeve
54 for ease in replacing the bearings and seals as shown in Figures 2-4.
The holes for these bolts are shown in Figures 2 and 4 for example,
and the bearing mounts are shown generally at ~2. Grease for lubri-
cating the bea.in~s can be co-,veniently injected in through the grease
fittings 74. Figure 6 shows alignment marks 75 to aid in accurate
re~cembly and orientation of the drum or sleeve. The elongated end
holes 76 are provided for bolt screws or for the grease fittings 74.

- lo - 2059440

An air hose 7~ commllnicating with the plant air supply 42,
which incll~des a regulator and filter, is connected to one end of the
shaft of the ~SÇmhly. A series of o-rings retain the air in the mani-
fold 40. Although air could be provided to both sides of the manifold
40 and an elaborate rotatable fitting (not shown) provided allowing
the hose (~6) to be stationary and the shaft to rotate, such is not
neecletl Air comi~ in through only one end of the manifold 40 has
proven in tests to be sufficient.
The chain idler 80 is held by a clamp 81 to the frame of the
machine. A snap ring collar sprocket 82 that goes around the main
shaft 84 of the machine is shown on the right-hand side of Figure 3 in
phantom and is driven off of sprocket 86. The drive chain 68 is paral-
lel to the line of the flange cle~ner and goes down to the right angle
drive 88 and a gear box and phase changer 90. A protective st~inl~
steel h~leing 94 slides over the top of the eql~ipment so that hands
and other objects do not get caught in the eqllirment.
In other words, the horizontally mounted manifold 40 creates a
narrow curtain of clean air duwllward across a p~ccing product-filled
container B. The sleeve 54 revolves around the air manifold 40, one
revolution per container B as shown by the arrow R and relative to
the container's direction of travel, as shown by the arrow T in
Figure S. The sleeve 54 has a pattern or template of slotted orifices
52 arranged to match the sealing surface area of the container or
bowl flange F. The configuration of slotted orifices and pattern
sleeve diameters can be readily adapted to various container lengths,
widths and heights. Air passes through the stationary manifold 40,
through the orifices 52 of the rotating pattern sleeve 54 when the
orifices inlc~sect the narrow curtain of air. As the sleeve 54 rotates
and the slots 52 track directly beneath the air curtain, narrow air
blasts are created directing the air dowl~ard and at angles, if nee~
and only at the traveling container's flange surface F. The contami-
nants C are blown off of the flange F without disturbing the container
B or its contents S, leaving a clean surface ready for heat seal. The
rotation of the pattern sleeve 54 is accurately synchronized by drive
60 with the conve~ance movement and spacing of the containers B.

~ 2059~4~)
- 11-

Timing and rotation are me~h~nic~lly achieved by a chain and
sprocket drive 68 with the phase changer 90 connected to the COl vey-
or's main shaft drive 84.
When the bowls B come down the line on this m~-~hine, they
are in line in the direction of travel and traveling at about one hun-
dred containers per minute. The pallets P themselves are driven by
the chain, and as the machine wears the chain stretches. The phase
changer 90 allows, by turning the knob thereof, to bring the system
back on center again. That is, it can be brought back into phase so
that the templates 40 are timed with the movement of the pallets P.
EXAMPLE
A test using fiity filled and contaminated plastigon bowls was
performed. Conv~:yor pallet guide rails were installed for continuous
horizontal/~:l~en~icular alignment of bowls to the pattern sleeve.
The con~min~nts used were various sizes of beef, beef broth and dif-
ferent consistencies of tomato paste arranged around the bowl flange.
The containers were run under the cont~min~nt remover (flange
rle~ning system) at fifty containers per minute and with an air pres-
sure of twelve pound~s per square inch. Visual inspection showed low
viscosity droplets less than 1/8 of an inch in diameter and that the
thin strands of meat had been completely removed. Thick droplets of
1/8 of an inch diameter and larger were di~-sed into sm~ller drop-
lets with some rem~inin~ on the flange, how~ver. Placing the bowls
with the rPn ~ininc small droplets under the cle~ni~ device again
effected comrlete removal.

Accordingly, another embodiment of the present invention
places two flange cle~ner_ end-to-end on the machine (20) to thereby
remove the droplets rem~ining on the flanges F. Although an eifi-
cient cle~ninc could be obtained by reversing the cor,veyor 32 and
running the bowl B through the clç~ning device 26 a second time, the
seCon~l ~lange ~le~ner is more efficient as the line can be kept run-
ning continuollcly. In other words, since large product drippage can-
not be re.l.oved with a single pass under the cle~ner apparently, a
t~ndem two-rleaner system (26) is preferred for many ~pplic~tions.

- 12- 2059~

- Although the c4~nillE system 26 of the present invention is
pictured installed on a FEMCO machine, it is also within the scope of
the present invention to install it on a GASTI machine. The GASTI
machine is a dual line arrangement with two containers (B) per pallet
(P) in a ~ t,sch setup, as previously discussed. The flange ~le~ner 26
can be easily adapted for the GASTI machine. The manifold thereof
40 would simply be lengthened and instead of one template, two tem-
plates 50 would be used for the dual line.
The flange contamin~nt remover or cle~ninE system 26 of the
present invention precisely ~Rminates cont~min~nts C by tracking
with a needle-like focused air stream on the seal areas F of the con-
tainer B while not disturbing the high fill level of the product S. This
pattern can be adapted for any flat, rigid or sloped flange surface or
any comhin~tion thereof. An example of a container B usable accord-
ing to this system is the known crockpot-sh~r~ed containers with ears
or h~n-l'~ on both sides. The crockpot version is Çxpensive to manu-
facture tho~ch, and thus square or round flanges, similar to a regular
soup dish or bowl, may be preferred. The soup cups or bowls can be
made of plastic, glass or other suitable material.
The air manifold 40, located inside of the rotating sleeve 54, as
previously stated, allows pivoting to any ~er~n~licular angle in the
travel direction T of the containers B. This allows removal of drop-
lets or particulates P in a reverse direction without contaminating the
flanges F previously cle~ned The device 26 can be used not only in a
cont1n~w~ motion as previously described, in singular or multiple
product lanes, but also in an intermittent system.
An intermittent system of this invention is shown in Figure 8
generally at 96. Referring thereto, it is seen that this system can be
adapted to an inde~ E line by using a stationary flathead 98. The
filled container B is located under the fixed head 98, that is, a tem-
plate manifold, while a do~vn~ard blast of clean comL,r~ l air blows
the cont~mlnants C off. In other words, the template comprises a
flat surface and a series of orifices or slots 100 p~.eein~ therethrough
above the package B. The package B is stationary for a predeter-
mined amount of time under the head, the head comes down over the

-13- 21:)59~

pack~a B and blows the particulates C off and away from the pack-
age. r~ ~le~ g systems, but without this present l~le~nirl~ system, have
been used for pack~in~ and sealine pickles for elr~mrle
From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that
there are nllmher of changes, adaptations and modifications of the
present invention which come within the province of those persons
having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention
pe. lains. Ho~. evcr, it is intended that all such variations not depart-
ing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope
thereof as limited solely by the pen~ling claims.

Representative Drawing